3 days ago I woke up with severe pain in my lower abdomen just above the pelvic bone. The pain was that intense I couldn't move and had to lie down I felt faint , sick and started burning up. I went back to bed after taking some pain relief and it was much easier when I woke up and just twinged throughout the rest of the day. Again yesterday exactly the same but not to the same degree but the pain was still bad and then eased throughout the day. Again this morning the pain was so intense again I felt sick, faint and couldn't move but eased off after 40 minutes and just a bit of pain now.

My periods have been very irregular for the last couple of years and I was checked out as they thought I had poly cystic ovaries but turned out I was clear of that and so I was discharged. My periods continue to be very irregular and when I do have one it is very very heavy and painful but not as painful as these pains I am getting now. The pains now are very sharp and feels like someone is stabbing me. I initially thought when I first had this pain I was going to start my period but I haven't but because it has been going on for 3 days now I am starting to get a bit worried. To add on I am not sexually active at the moment either. Any help would be much appreciated.

Hello,Of course severe and prolonged pain should be checked out. Since the abdomen has multiple organs in it there are many possible causes. Appendix would be one area of concern since you don't want it to rupture (more often on the right).

Ovarian cysts are always a possibility, even if you did not have any signs at your last exam. These come and go in women. Endometriosis is also a common cause of abdominal pain, often cyclic and worse just before the period starts. Pelvic inflammatory disease also presents with pain like this.

Urinary tract infections or kidney stones can also mimic gynecological disorders so if you have any symptoms of urgency, frequency, pain after voiding, cloudy urine, etc. you should have a urinalysis.

The bowel can also be a problem in here. A blockage in the colon can cause severe distress and needs to be evaluated (waves of crampy pain are described). Diverticulitis (more often on the left) and colonitis can cause abdominal pain. Gas itself is very painful. Walking and simethicone can often relieve this. I am assuming you are not constipated.

What makes it difficult to diagnose is that different disorders can mimic each other. While waiting for your doctor, keep a diary of your symptoms with description of the pain, duration, whether or not anything relieves it, how often (does it come and go or is it constant?), when it first began, the severity, etc. this will help your doctor to know where to begin.

I'm sorry I can't be more helpful with a specific diagnosis but this is complicated.